McCotter says campaign may have insufficient signatures for August ballot

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter may not be on ballot due to questions about petition signatures

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter said Friday that there are questions surrounding the "sufficiency" or "insufficiency" of his petition signatures.

"I have been apprised my campaign may have submitted insufficient petition signatures to appear on the August primary ballot as a candidate for the 11th Congressional District's Republican nomination," McCotter said in a news release. "We will thoroughly review our petition signatures for their sufficiency or insufficiency."

He said a public announcement will be made Tuesday.

The Livonia Republican submitted 2,000 signatures, according to the Secretary of State. That's more than enough to qualify for the August ballot. But according to the Secretary of State, the signatures are not valid which means as of Friday night, McCotter is not on the ballot unless he can persuade the Secretary of State and prove his signatures are valid.

Signatures can be challenged after they are submitted. The deadline was May 15.

GOP sources are telling Local 4 that there is a movement to support attorney Dave Trott as a write-in candidate.

There is no precedent of a write-in candidate ever winning a congressional race in Michigan, a GOP strategist told Local 4.

A Tea Party candidate from Milford, Kerry Bentivolio, had filed to run against McCotter. Bentivolio will be on the ballot.

McCotter has been a Michigan congressman since 2003. Many expected him to grab an easy victory this fall.